The 190 model, the originator of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, was officially unveiled 39 years ago, establishing the third Mercedes-Benz passenger car family and creating a new market segment. In the face of the fierce competition in the Chinese car market, after 39 years, can Mercedes-Benz's sixth-generation C-class model once again break through and establish a benchmark position for the same class? With these questions in mind, we flew to Chengdu, the largest city in the west known for its "comfort and ease", to explore the little-known charm of Mercedes-Benz's new C-Class.
In fact, since the third generation of Mercedes-Benz C-Class, I have test-driven every generation of models, and the fifth generation of C-Class domestic models also use a long wheelbase design, longer body size and design concept derived from S-Class models make many people think that it is the most elegant C-class car in history. It is undeniable that each generation of C-class cars has a dynamic, fashionable gene, and there is no lack of taste and elegance represented by the trident star. What's more, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class has been constantly innovating, and each generation of C-Class models is rapidly improving and improving. What about the sixth deputy now?
"Planted" by such a design
When I came to Chengdu and saw the new generation of C-class extended version in front of me, I could see the difference at a glance. A more vertical air intake grille, combined with a wide "convex" lower lip and low-bay air intakes, and sickle-shaped daytime running lights, make the new C-Class even more exhilarating. The five powerful ridges on the front bonnet and the waist line that gradually rises on both sides of the body and extends to the rear of the car continue to highlight elegance and fashion, but they are more sporty than their predecessors. The diamond-cut five-spoke alloy wheels vividly show the dynamic feeling of the whole vehicle.
Indeed, as the inventor of the car, Mercedes-Benz has gradually reversed the brand gene in the C-class, from luxury and comfort to sports, and it has been very successful, becoming the largest selling model of Mercedes-Benz, and successfully invading the position traditionally considered to be the BMW 3 Series, making this segment bigger and stronger, and creating brilliance again. It was with this kind of thinking that I explored the spirit of sportsmanship that I sat in the driver's seat of the new generation of Mercedes-Benz C260L.
The seats of the new car are more supportive and wrapped than the previous generation, and it is very comfortable to sit on. What fascinated me the most was the innovative solid wood and aluminum strip clad design of the center console, which was quite elaborate, and the vertical stripe groove was cut by laser, only 0.5mm thick, as thin as a cicada wing, and after a precise fit with the aluminum foil patch, it created a unique visual effect like the texture of the yacht deck. There are also atmosphere lights buried in the air outlet, and when night falls, the brilliant brilliance will be reflected from the air outlet, making the atmosphere in the car more warm. The air outlet is wrapped in desensitized chrome and has a delicate texture on the inner wall for a delicate touch. Honestly, I was "planted" by this design, and I think it is the "most beautiful boy" in the automotive industry.
Let comfort move with your heart
Sighing at its superbness, pressing the start button to light the fire, the car shook slightly and restored its tranquility. It is reported that the engine compartment of the new car has increased the sound insulation coating, and the sound insulation pad has been added under the A-pillar; the engine support is made of plastic parts to reduce the transmission of vibration to the body floor; the resonant block has been added to the transmission support position, the transmission shaft and the rear differential position, reducing the vibration generated by the power transmission process, etc., creating a smooth and quiet when the new car is idling, and achieving the highest comfort in the history of the Mercedes-Benz C-class. Without looking at the tachometer, I really don't know that the engine is ready to serve you.
Sport steering wheel with 3 spokes for excellent grip. Hanging into D gear, gently holding the steering wheel with both hands, pressing the throttle hard under your feet, the dynamic of running is revealed. I particularly like the tuning of the C260L Sport, a 1.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine that delivers a maximum power of 150kW and a lift of up to 100kW. This data is definitely the best in civilian mass production vehicles, once again highlighting the technical strength of the car inventors. Its maximum torque of 300 Nm can be fully distributed in the range of 1800 rpm to 4000 rpm. More importantly, such a powerful engine is also equipped with the second generation of 48V light hybrid system ISG, compared with the first generation of RSG, the second generation of ISG system power increased by 50% to 15kW, torque increased by 11% to 200Nm. Under the close cooperation of the engine +48V light mix, the new C260L Sport version accelerates from 0-100km/h in only 7.7 seconds, 0.8 seconds faster than the previous model, and 0.4 seconds faster than the BMW 325Li Sport Version using a 2.0T turbine, becoming a veritable and sporty car in its class.
In fact, the 1.5T engine used on the new Mercedes-Benz C260L also uses technologies such as double vortex, cylinder wall coating and piston ring coating that are only used in Formula 1 racing, and the fuel injection pressure has also increased from 200 bar to the industry's highest 350 bar, reducing the diameter of atomized oil droplets from 20 microns to 8 microns, comprehensively improving combustion efficiency and saving fuel by more than 10%.
The test drive was driven from Downtown Chengdu to Dujiangyan. Following the popularity of cars on the highway, the new C260L is very quiet, even if the floor oil occasionally pushes the speed up, the speed exceeds 140km/h, and the noise is still well isolated outside the carriage, which is much quieter than the BMW 325Li and Audi A4L of the same level. In fact, I really don't believe in some of the statements, such as deliberately letting sound penetrate into the carriage to create a sense of movement, or how the sound line sounds, and so on. Maybe it's just a face-saving sales pitch.
What a cool word!
So, will a car that is too quiet lack a bit of driving pleasure? Of course not, the driving sensation of the new C260L can be fully obtained from the contact between the hands, feet and body and the seat. Its direction is moderately light and heavy, but it feels very direct, grabbing the line to change lanes in a complex traffic flow, and the grasp is very accurate. The accelerator pedal also has a feeling of sticking to the soles of the foot, completely without the feeling of weakness of the electronic throttle, and a slight pressure or a little looser of the pedal immediately has the reaction of refueling or receiving oil. Of course, this direct feeling is likely to also benefit from the second-generation 48-volt ISG system. Its motor can quickly bring the engine to 1100 rpm in 510 milliseconds, during which the engine does not inject fuel, does not burn to do work, and brings a silky smooth senseless start to the engine, while having the unrivaled quietness of its peers.
Parallel to other vehicles on high speeds is very dangerous, and most of the time I will accelerate overtaking with floor oil. At this time, the new C260L quickly increased the speed with a strong push back feeling, but the whole process did not have any sense of impact, which was obviously thanks to the 9-speed automatic transmission, and the connection between gears and gears was so seamless. Similarly, using the manual mode, the performance is also very smooth, inadvertently beyond the past, that kind of exhilarating pleasure how to get a "cool" word?
Of course, this time the test car, I did not have the opportunity to have a good chop on the mountain road, it is indeed a bit of a pity. But that doesn't affect my liking for its manipulation performance. First of all, its suspension fineness is good, driving through the road surface pits and seams, the spring response is fast and easy, and the shock absorption treatment is excellent. Secondly, the new C-class extended version of the car increased by nearly 100mm, the wheelbase increased by 34mm to 2954mm, the longer size will weaken the handling, so let the new C-class have more accurate handling than the previous generation, obviously some strong people are difficult. Compared with the previous generation C-class, the control of the sixth-generation C260L is no longer sharp, but instead slightly compromises towards comfort. The suspension system with multiple linkages after the front double wishbones is also weaker than that of its predecessors, but the suspension with sufficient support, even if it exceeds 1.7 tons in the car, the roll of the body when realizing overtaking is not large, or it makes the driver full of confidence.
Enjoy the "Third Place"
In fact, in the digital age, the application of connected technology is everywhere, and the car, which is called a mobile tool, is no exception. The sixth generation of Mercedes-Benz C-class extended version also matches many intelligent and convenient functions, comprehensively meets the needs of users' intelligent travel, brushing dramas in the car, booking takeaways, checking tickets, etc. can be easily done, becoming a smart and comfortable third living space.
The entire series comes standard with a 12.3-inch digital instrument screen and an 11.9-inch central touch screen, with high-definition picture quality comparable to professional computer display effects. The second generation of MBUX intelligent human-computer interaction system further optimizes human-computer interaction and communication, and builds 40 life applications, covering food, clothing, housing and transportation, bringing multiple intelligent and comfortable new life experiences.
Driving a new long-wheelbase C-class sedan on the streets of Chengdu, which is known for its "ease and comfort", luxurious interiors, quiet carriages and comfortable driving, it feels like a "Bashi board". But I want to emphasize that compared to its predecessors, the sixth-generation Mercedes-Benz Long Wheelbase C-Class has written a new chapter in comfort while retaining most of its sportiness. It can be seen that the new car is trying to unify the contradiction between comfort and sport. It can be said that the new long-wheelbase C-Class has changed from its predecessors to "enjoy comfort in sports" to "enjoy sports in comfort", or to paraphrase a trendy phrase, "seize the sports C position with comfort".
[Reporter] Shao Yumei
【Author】 Shao Yumei
Car nanny
Source: South+ - Create more value